Fluid-distribution mechanism



March 1965 D. B. MGINTYRE FLUID-DISTRIBUTION MECHANISM Filed Dec. 6,19%

INVENTOR. DONALD B. McINTYRE ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,174,689 FLUID-DBTRIBUHUN MECHANISM, Donald B. McIntyre, ZlflHiliside Ave, Needharn, Mass. Fiied nee. s, 19 2, Ser, No. 242,713 11 Claims. (Ci. 239--7{)) The present invention relates to fluid-distribution mechanisms, and, more specifically, to fluid applicators for coating materials with, for example, hot melt adhesives, resins, plastics or other fluids, hereinafter generically described as adhesive-like fluids.

Numerous types of applicators for adhesive-like fluids have been evolved and employed throughout the years, ranging from spray guns to metered wheel-controlled. applicators. Particularly with the use of hot melt adhesivelike compounds, however, such devices have been subject to serious disadvantages, including the inherent accumulalions due to surplus fluid and the resulting irregularities in applied coatings.

An object of the present invention, accordingly, is to provide a new and'improved fluid-distribution mechanism that is particularly, thoughnot exclusively, adapted for enabling uniform and controlled adhesive-like coating without interference from fluid accumulations or overflows or. the other disadvantageousefiects or prior-art applicators. In summary, this end is achieved through a novel coaxial cylindrical construction in'accordan'ce with which hot melt or other fluids are rotatably distributed into a coaxial-flow construction for distribution at selected intervals of times.

A further object is to provide a new and improved fluid distribution mechanism of more general applicability, as well.

Other and further objects will be explained hereinafter and will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a combined longitudinal section and schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the distribution mechanism is shown comprising a pair of substantially coaxially disposed inner and outer cylindrical members 1 and 3, respectively. The inner cylinder 1 is provided with a preferably axially disposed recess 2 communicating with the surface or exterior of the cylinder through substantially radial openings 2' and aperture 2" near opposite ends thereof. The openings 2 are tapered down at 2" to enable alinement with corresponding small radial openings 3 in the outer cylindrical member 3 near the left-hand terminal portion thereof, as illustrated. The left-hand end of the inner cylinder longitudinal or axial recess 2 is shown closed by an end-blocking plug 5 (or set screw), and the right-hand radial aperture 2" from the recess 2 communicates with a circumferential depression or recess 7 for a purpose later explained. Alined and communicating with the apertured region 2"7 is a further radial aperture 3 in the form of a Y-shaped opening extending in the circumferential surface of outer cylinder 3 and having a wider neck at the circumference of such outer cylinder 3.

The cylinders 1 and 3 are locked against relative rotation by a pin 15. The slot in the outer cylinder 3 that receives the pin 15, however, has longitudinal or axialdirection length so that the cylinders 1 and 3 may be relatively axially moved to withdraw the openings 2 from alinement with the openings 3' and thus permit the blocking of fluid distribution by the inner wall of the cylinder 3 at desired times, as later explained.

Coaxially rotatably mounted upon the outer cylinder 3, covering the region of the alined apertures 3"2", is a cylindrical housing 9, into annular recesses or cavities 11 of which the hot adhesive-like melt or other fluid is fed jlifi h Patented Mar. 23, 1865 'ice by an inlet in the housing 9. communicating with the cavities 11, not shown. The housing 9 thus contains the fluid and, by virtue of rotation of the cylinder 3, relative rotation between the cylindrical members 3.-1 andthe housingfiis attained. This rotating is by'abelt driven pulley member 13 (or chain-driven sprocket) secured to the right-hand terminal extension of the cylinders 3-1 from the housing 9. Fluid seal washers 17.and bearings 19, preferably lubricated by the melt or other fluidwithin the housing 9, enable facile relative rotation with minimal leakage, which leakage is of no concern. The fluid received within'the housing 9, however, is distributed into the rotating member 3 having aperture 3 and thence into the aperture 2" and the axial recess 2 of the inner member With the cylinders 1 and 3 in the position shown, the fluidis ejected and thus distributed as a controlled flow out of the alined openings 27-2' and 3'. Operation of an air cylinder or other axial-force-producing member, linked to a fork-like element 21 secured to the right-hand terminal portion ofthe inner cylinder 1, will permit -axial movement to the left to block the openings 2'-2." by the innenwall regions of the cylinder 3 immediately to the left of the openings 3'. A return stroke of the air cylinder 19 will again permit alinementof openings 21-2. and 3' and thus a controlled flow distribution.

Elementary, well-known synchronization of the motor drive for rotating the cylinders 1, 3 relative to the housing 9, represented at 23, may thus permit actuating the air cylinder 19 for a limited prescribed time interval each rotation, so that the fluid ejection occurs only when the openings 3' pass the position of the paper or other material to be coated. If desired, the air cylinder may readily be periodically operated in a time-interrupted manner by the synchronizer 23 to produce dots of fluid application instead of a steady stream or line. Similar well-known modifications will also occur to those skilled in the art.

The utilization of this rotary distribution of the fluid from the housing to the coaxial cylindrical members 1, 3, and the above-described axial displacement thereof at the desired times during relative rotation of the housing 9 and cylinders 13, has been found to eliminate the above-described disadvantages of prior-art applicators, and, particularly with the circumferential overflow recess 7 and extension of the recess 2 to the right of the aperture 2", as at 22, and the longer extension of the cylinders to the left of the housing 9, prevents accumulations, hardening of the same, and uncontrolled fluid application.

Further modifications will also be apparent to those skilled in the art, and all such are considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid distribution mechanism having, in combination, a pair of substantially coaxially disposed inner and outer substantially cylindrical members relatively movable in the axial direction thereof between two positions, the inner member being provided with an internal recess communicating with opening means extending from the recess to a predetermined region along the surface of the inner member, the outer member being provided with further opening means alined with the inner member opening means in one of the said two relative axial positions and with the outer member blocking the inner member opening means in the other position, and housing means substantially coaxially mounted about a portion of the outer member displaced from the said predetermined region thereof and provided with means for receiving the fluid-to-be-distributed, the inner and outer members being relatively rotatable with respect to the housing means and being apertured at alined regions within the said housing means for enabling the fluid to be dispensed from the interior of the said housing means through the said apertured alined regions and into the said inner member recess during the relative rotation of the housing means and the innerand outer members, and means for relatively moving the inner and outer members between the said two positions.

2. A fluid-distribution mechanism as claimed in claim 1 and in which the inner and outer members axially extend from opposite sides of the said housing means, with the said inner member predetermined region disposed near one terminal portion thereof and the said moving means operative upon the oppoiste terminal portion thereof.

3. A fluid-distribution mechanism as claimed in claim 2 and in which the extension containing the said one terminal portion is substantially longer than the opposite terminal portion extension.

4. A fluid-distribution mechanism as claimed in claim 2 and in which the said moving means comprises a forklike member secured to the said opposite terminal portion and linked with an axial-force-producing member. 1 ,5. A fluid-distribution system as claimed in claim 1 7. A fluid-distribution system as claimed in claim 6 and in which a bearing means is provided between the housing and the outer cylindrical member.

8. A fluid-distribution system as claimed in claim 7 and in which the said fluid comprises a hot adhesive-like melt that lubricates the bearing means and that is distriuted through the said alined openings means.

9. A fluid-distribution system as claimed in claim 1 and in which the inner and outer cylindrical members are locked together by locking pin means and a slot is provided for permitting axial movement of the locking pin means in response to the actuation of the said moving means.

and in which the said inner member recess comprises a substantially axially disposed opening, and the said opening means and apertured regions comprise substantially radially extending openings.

6. A fluid-distribution system as claimed in claim 5 j j and in which the said housing means is provided with annular chambers for receiving the fluid.

7 10. A fluid-distribution system as claimed in claim 1 and in which the said alined apertured regions comprise a circumferential recess.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and in which means is provided for operating the moving means at predetermined times during relative rotation of the housing and the inner and outer cylindrical members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 637,565 Hett Nov. 21, 1899 1,163,734 Binns Dec. 14, 1915 1,186,226 Parker June 6, 1916 2,921,746 Burman Jan. 19, 1960 3,053,463 Milleville Sept. 11, 1962 

1. A FLUID-DISTRIBUTOR MECHANISM HAVING, IN COMBINATION, A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY COAXIALLY DISPOSED INNER AND OUTER SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL MEMBERS RELATIVELY MOVABLE IN THE AXIAL DIRECTION THEREOF BETWEEN TWO POSITIONS, THE INNER MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH AN INTERNAL RECESS COMMUNICATING WITH OPENING MEANS EXTENDING FROM THE RECESS TO A PREDETERMINED REGION ALONG THE SURFACE OF THE INNER MEMBER, THE OUTER MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH FURTHER OPENING MEANS ALINED WITH THE INNER MEMBER OPENING MEANS IN ONE OF THE SAID TWO RELATIVE AXIAL POSITIONS AND WITH THE OUTER MEMBER BLOCKING THE INNER MEMBER OPENING MEANS IN THE OTHER POSITION, AND HOUSING MEANS SUBSTANTIALLY COAXIALLY MOUNTED ABOUT A PORTION OF THE OUTER MEMBER DISPLACED FROM THE SAID PREDETERMINED REGION THEREOF AND PROVIDED WITH MEANS FOR RECEIVING THE FLUID-TO-BE-DISTRIBUTED, THE INNER AND OUTER MEMBERS BEING RELATIVELY ROTATABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE HOUSING MEANS AND BEING APERTURED AT ALINED REGIONS WITHIN THE SAID HOUSING MEANS FOR ENABLING THE FLUID TO BE DISPENSED FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE SAID HOUSING MEANS THROUGH THE SAID APERTURED ALINGED REGIONS AND INTO THE SAID INNER MEMBER RECESS DURING THE RELATIVE ROTATION OF THE HOUSING MEANS AND THE INNER AND OUTER MEMBERS, AND MEANS FOR RELATIVELY MOVING THE INNER AND OUTER MEMBERS BETWEEN THE SAID TWO POSITIONS. 